I Really Love Dogs

August 7th, 2012

Are you wondering how I spent my last day of summer?  Fear not, I am telling you everything.  In the name of dog-sitting (our daughter's boyfriends dog, Leif)….I've been on a behavior round-a-bout all day.  I have let him in and out.  I have put him in his kennel and I have rescued him from danger.  All day long! Plus, I went to the grocery store and Walmart!  Curses to Walmart!

This is one of his favorite bad behavior choices.  He jumps (like OLYMPIC HIGH DIVE) into my little pond by my front door.  Not only does this dude jump in like a pro….he proceeds to swim down to the bottom like a hippo.  Eyes wide open!  He is crazy!

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He also has a strange affinity for potted plants.  Well, make that any plant inside of the world of soil and dirt.  He trashes it!  With gusto!  Which isn't cool because my son's dog, Gracie….she loves to dig and trash too.  So, the two of them are a duo of destruction!

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I give up!  This is my planter that I had several different items planted in….I think this double dog dig has finished off any hopes of salvaging a harvest.  Me not happy!   Off with their heads!

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After Leif finishes his swim, he likes to dry off.  What better way of doing so than rustling your whole body all through the ivy.  Bob & weave in and out of every single strand.  Leave nothing unturned, dude.  Really.  TRASH IT, WOULD YA?

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The cherry on top?  My hubby's hostas!  Ohhhhh this one, this one is the killer.  They chewed up and stomped down and duuuuuuug some serious holes here.  Hubby had to leave for a wedding tonight…but I swear, I heard him mutter something threatening to both dogs.  He was M A D !   Who can blame him?  This is plain old criminal destruction!

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But don't worry.  They are both fine.  Exhausted…but fine.  Notice how they are resting in front of the fan and doing their best to cool off from all the home wrecking they've done today?!  

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Being a dog is hard work!

Goodbye summer break!  I don't think I could take another day like today!

PS–Do not ask me if I want any more dogs.  The answer is a gigantor NO!  I am soon retiring from animals.  When these croak, I'm done!

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So Long Summer

August 6th, 2012

I'm dragging around this morning for good reason.  I've just returned from vacation.  If you've traveled by car with your family any long distance then you know….it's exhausting!  Throw in a little high need "attached to the mama" dog and you've got slap worn out!  I feel zapped!

The week went by pretty fast (we spent it with friends in Alabama) and now the reality staring me down is school begins in 2 days!  I'm not ready!  I won't go into the details of how that makes me feel but it's time to suck it up and get back to work.  Crying won't change anything.

Ahh, summer…you've been good for me.

I stumbled upon some help this morning.  I might be just who they're aiming for when they put this conference together.  The gals over at Keeping it Personal are behind The Refine Conference in Bloomington, MN this fall (September 21-22).  By the looks of it…every woman who is running the life rat-race should be attending.  Wish I could go too.  But alas, school & life come first.  Maybe next time.

Also, tomorrow is the big debut of Lysa TerKeurst's newest book…UNGLUED.  If you're a mama that dreads school starting (like me) and has no desire to turn into that barking, yelling mom every morning–this might be the book you need!  Lysa has a way with being real and encouraging us to keep moving forward even when we goof up.  She's a great source of love and wisdom for women.  Her blog is one of my fave's!

"Bad moments don't make bad mama's!"  (Lysa T)

With Wednesday morning beating at my door…I'm going to get busy trying to organize my life and unpacking my family's "stuff" today.  I might even try to jump back into cooking a meal or two.  Enjoy your Monday, friends.

Kisses to you summer break!  XO

 

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Freeze Framin’ in Alabama

August 3rd, 2012

 

The best lighting to use for outside photography is early morning (or so I hear). So guess who was up this morning bright and early? Not me, her —>

Well, up with makeup on..anyways! I was up, but not looking very pretty.

Florence Alabama is full of great photo locations and if you're a girl going into your senior year with a friend that's a photographer–you pounce! As in, use your opportunities to have some senior photo's made at your leisure.

 

I'm stealing (in the world of photog circles) from the untouched reel of the bajillion shots she took on the campus of University of North Alabama! Did you know they have ON CAMPUS in the middle of everything….a lion & lioness? Uhh, yea they do! Beautiful. Both of them.

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I didn't know they were sleeping right beside me until I walked right up on them.  It was so quiet and peaceful on campus.  These two have it pretty good.

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I may get killed for posting this shot (sorry M) but this is in front of the prettiest on-campus residence.  I wanted to scoop up all the Hydrangeas and take them home with me.  There must have been hundreds, in every color.  

The best part of having a friend take your picture is that they don't mind crawling all over the place to find a single shot that looks cute.

Now that I've given you an idea….it's time to find the "money" shots and have them touched and loved on to fit her liking.  Surely, there's something just perfect to choose from out of the 350 photos taken today.

Oh yea, and HAPPY FRIDAY!  I'm still on vacation…so the days are all running together.  I won't be saying that next week, huh?

Back to school on Wednesday  crying

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In the South

August 2nd, 2012

I'm always at home when I'm in the south.  No matter how you slice it, the people are special!  Hubby and I had to make a Target run (while on our Alabama vacay) and no matter where I turned….someone smiled warmly at me and spoke.  Strangers.

I miss hospitality.

Staying with old friends on your vacation (all in one house) can be tricky.  If you're weird about being seen "not looking your best" this set-up won't work.  But if you're like family….all is cool.

No one judges appearances in real friendships.

Great big magnolia trees (as old as your granny) towering overhead remind me just how beautiful life is in the dirty south.  I used to decorate my whole house with them.  I'd clip them off the branches and place them everywhere.  They last forever…even if I spray painted them gold.

I've always been a steel magnolia, at heart.

Competitions among friends aren't always a good thing….unless it's a killer game of ping-pong!  Stuff might get knocked over but the memories wedge themselves deep into hearts and remind you friends are there to help you grow.

Two hearts are better than one.

Food always tastes better in the south.  Anyone who cooks understands this.  Sweet tea isn't just a way of poking fun of southerners.  It's really a must-have when washing down hearty meals like chili-dogs!  Real chili–meat & beans.  No noodles involved.

We had spinach dip too.  Well-rounded meal, indeed. Oh and HOT Krispy Kreme's for breakfast.

Okay, I'll just say it… we are living the good life.  A week of vacation was just what we needed.  Time away helps the brain and body to recup.  Doing it in the south…is just a bonus!

Wish I could stay just a little longer.

 

 

 

 

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Tastes BitterSweet

July 31st, 2012

I'm not sure how I feel yet.  Shocked a little, maybe numb?  A mixture of both?

This little cutie is a high school senior!  Officially!  As of last night.  I didn't have a real expectation of any emotions.  Guess I'd psyched myself up!  I mean, come on….it's not like I haven't done this twice already.  I wasn't planning to feel…weird.

I think the news that she would be graduating mid-term is what sealed my fate.  As soon as I looked at her schedule and there was no 2nd semester classes, my heart sank.  Low.  Very low.

How do we celebrate big events (that take them from us) with our kids when it's so painful?

No turning back.  This is how it is and I'm happy & excited for her.  It's time for her to soar and grow into the woman God expects her to be.  She's going to need me (pushing & letting go) all through this year and beyond.  My wish is that I'll do it with grace (even when I want to cry) and that I'll be able to "whoop it up" with her come Christmas!

Goodluck Miss Gates!  I really am so proud of you! XO XO

 

 

 

 

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Packing Procrastinators

July 30th, 2012

I don't know how you like to do things when it's vacation time in your family…but us, we like to procrastinate!  We take extra time (to get things ready, ya know) and then we waste it because we are dragging our feet with a bunch of nothing stuff.  Like right now.  It's Sunday night and all weekend we had lists of things to do in order to be ready to leave TUESDAY NIGHT!!!

We've slept in both Saturday & Sunday.  Some people, later than others.

Started a crazy in-depth bathroom wall repair job.  Dust & debris everywhere.

Piled laundry in random areas.  None of which is for the trip.  

Created a grand amount of chaos in several locations in our house.  Tool hunting.

Not washed either dog.  One is leaving today (Monday) to visit friends.

Forgot to color my horrible gray roots.  This can wait, but ewww!

And of course…we haven't packed a single thing!

The reason we were supposed to get all these duties done before Monday is because we have no time on Monday.  It's a day full of busy activities that can't be skipped.  It's senior picture day for Miss Gates and senior registration…plus I have classroom work to do before I can leave town.  This means, packing will have to get serious late on Monday night and early on Tuesday.  Just the way we always do it, rushing & hectic.

I hate traveling all exhausted!  6 hours and 18 minutes to our destination.

I'm really excited to go back to Alabama.  We're visiting with our friends from seminary days (the Nelsons) and have lots of fun lake days planned.  NO, I WON'T BE TAKING MY IPHONE ON THE BOAT!  NOPE NOPE NOPE!!  NOT DOING IT!  They've been sending us tantalizing photos of all the boat fun they're having each day.  I can't wait to just get away and laugh with friends who love us and care about the same things we do.

Friends are the family you choose, right?

Besides not being ready to go yet….I took one for the team too.  Hubby is my favorite pedicurist.  I hire him out when need be (Ahem, Marilyn) and he tries to keep my scratchy flip-flop heels nice and smooth.  A job meant for serious professionals, I'm sure.  But he trudges on.  Yesterday he was filing away and sliced the skin off of the ball of my foot.  Enough that I can't walk on that foot now.  It huuuuuurts!  The pain even woke me up in the middle of the night shooting up to my knee.  That kind of hurt!

 

So, I'm milking it good.  (it really does hurt)

You know…the old, this is going to be okay.  I have a few more days left of summer before I have to go back to work.  It should be healed in a few weeks,  kind of milking it.  Hehe!

Since it is vacation week and I am procrastinating (along with all my family)….I'll just gimp along and hope the booboo heals fast!

 

 

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